U.S. patent application number 15/631198 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-27 for wear-inhibiting clip for draper cleat or slat of a crop harvesting header.
The applicant listed for this patent is MacDon Industries Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ryan Georgison, Kris Martens, Doug Rogalsky.
Application Number | 20180368323 15/631198 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62597353 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180368323 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martens; Kris ; et
al. |
December 27, 2018 |
Wear-Inhibiting Clip for Draper Cleat or Slat of a Crop Harvesting
Header
Abstract
A clip for a draper of a crop header is arranged to cover a
portion of a cleat of a draper where the lower run of the draper
comes into contact with a lower support track which confines the
lower run to a location clear of the cutter bar and a forwardly
extending beam of the crop header frame. The clip forms a channel
which features teeth presented at an inside of the channel for
biting into the cleat so as to retain the clip thereon with the
teeth forming ramped surfaces which can slide along the cleat upon
installation of the clip, for example by press fitting the clip
downwardly onto the cleat.
Inventors: |
Martens; Kris; (Winnipeg,
CA) ; Georgison; Ryan; (Winnipeg, CA) ;
Rogalsky; Doug; (Winnipeg, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MacDon Industries Ltd. |
Winnipeg |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
62597353 |
Appl. No.: |
15/631198 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 75/00 20130101;
B65G 15/42 20130101; A01D 34/14 20130101; A01D 61/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01D 75/00 20060101
A01D075/00; A01D 61/02 20060101 A01D061/02 |
Claims
1. A clip for use in a crop header which includes a draper with (i)
a continuous belt of flexible material arranged to define an upper
run and a lower run and having an outer surface of the belt for
carrying cut crop thereon, and (ii) a plurality of cleats supported
on the belt each having a top surface spaced from the outer surface
of the belt and side surfaces depending from the top surface to the
outer surface of the belt, the clip comprising: a channel having a
crown extending longitudinally between first and second ends at a
top side of the channel that is locatable at or adjacent the top
surface of the respective cleat and legs depending downwardly from
opposing sides of the crown; and a plurality of teeth supported on
the legs at a location spaced downwardly from the crown and
extending inwardly towards an opposite one of the legs to
respective inner free ends of the teeth which are adapted for
biting into the side surfaces of the respective cleat to retain the
clip on the respective cleat in a mounted position of the clip;
each tooth having a ramped surface opposite from the crown which
extends inwardly towards the opposite one of the legs at an upward
slope towards the crown up to the inner free end of the respective
tooth such that the ramped surface of each tooth is adapted to ride
along the side surfaces of the respective cleat as the clip is
pressed downwardly onto the respective cleat towards the mounted
position of the clip.
2. The clip according to claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the
channel comprises non-metallic material arranged so as to have a
coefficient of friction which is less than that of the cleats.
3. The clip according to claim 1 wherein the legs are sufficiently
rigid relative to the crown to penetrate the teeth into the side
surfaces of the respective cleat solely by downward pressing of the
clip onto the respective cleat towards the mounted position of the
clip.
4. The clip according to claim 1 wherein the ramped surfaces are
oriented at an angle of greater than 45 degrees from an inner
surface of the crown.
5. The clip according to claim 1 wherein each tooth includes an
inner surface opposite the ramped surface thereof which extends
inwardly towards the opposite one of the legs at an upward slope
towards the crown up to the inner free end of the respective tooth,
the inner surface and the outer surface of each tooth intersecting
one another at an apex extending longitudinally of the channel at
the inner free end of the tooth.
6. The clip according to claim 1 wherein each leg supports a
plurality of the teeth thereon at longitudinally spaced positions
thereon.
7. The clip according to claim 6 wherein the teeth are spaced each
from the next by a distance less than half a length of the
respective tooth longitudinal of the channel.
8. The clip according to claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the
clip is rounded where the respective leg meets the crown.
9. The clip according to claim 1 wherein the crown includes a
central portion and a pair of end portions extending longitudinally
outward from the central portion towards the first and second ends
respectively, a thickness of the crown within each end portion
being tapered longitudinally from the central portion of the crown
towards the respective end of the channel such that an overall
height of the crown relative to the legs is reduced towards both of
the first and second ends of the channel.
10. The clip according to claim 1 wherein the channel includes a
central portion and a pair of end portions extending longitudinally
outward from the central portion towards the first and second ends
respectively, a width of the clip within each end portion being
tapered longitudinally from the central portion of the crown
towards the respective end of the channel such that the width at
the first and second ends is smaller in than the width at the
central portion.
11. The clip according to claim 10 wherein the teeth are spaced
longitudinally inward relative to the first and second ends of the
channel such that there is a length of the end portion at both ends
of the clip where there is no tooth.
12. A method of installing a clip on a draper of a crop header, the
method comprising: providing the draper with (i) a continuous belt
of flexible material arranged to define an upper run and a lower
run and having an outer surface of the belt for carrying cut crop
thereon, and (ii) a plurality of cleats supported on the belt each
having a top surface spaced from the outer surface of the belt and
side surfaces depending from the top surface to the outer surface
of the belt; providing the clip with (i) a channel having a crown
extending longitudinally between first and second ends at a top
side of the channel, (ii) legs depending downwardly from opposing
sides of the crown, and (iii) plurality of teeth supported on the
legs at a location spaced downwardly from the crown and extending
inwardly towards an opposite one of the legs to respective inner
free ends of the teeth; and pressing the clip downwardly onto the
cleat such that the inner free ends ride along the side surfaces of
the respective cleat as the clip is pressed downwardly onto the
respective cleat until the crown of the channel is located at or
adjacent the top surface of the respective cleat and the teeth bite
into the side surfaces of respective cleat to retain the clip on
the respective cleat in a mounted position of the clip.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein each tooth further
comprises a ramped surface opposite from the crown which extends
inwardly towards the opposite one of the legs at an upward slope
towards the crown up to the inner free end of the respective tooth
and wherein the method includes resiliently deforming at least one
of (i) the side surfaces of the respective cleat or (ii) the legs
of the clip relative to the crown of the clip, as the ramped
surfaces of the teeth ride along the side surfaces of the
respective cleat during downward pressing of the clip onto the
respective cleat.
14. A crop header arranged for cutting and transporting a standing
crop comprising: a header frame; the header frame comprising a main
rear frame member and a plurality of forwardly extending beams each
supported by the main rear frame member; an elongate cutter bar
connected to the forward end of the beams so as to be arranged
along a front edge of the frame; a draper assembly mounted on the
header frame rearwardly of the cutter bar such that cut crop falls
onto the draper assembly for transportation longitudinally of the
header; the draper assembly including a first and a second draper
guide roller each arranged at a respective end of the draper
assembly spaced apart along the cutter bar with an axis of each
guide roller arranged substantially at right angles to the cutter
bar; wherein the draper assembly comprises a continuous belt of
flexible material wrapped about the first and second draper guide
rollers so as to define an upper run of the belt on top of the
rollers and a lower run of the belt below the rollers; at least one
of the guide rollers being driven to drive the belt; at least one
support member carried below the lower run of the belt extending
longitudinally of the lower run with an upper surface of said at
least one support member for confining the lower run of the belt to
a location above at least one of the forwardly extending beams and
a bottom of the cutter bar; wherein the draper assembly includes a
plurality of cleats on the belt each extending transversely of the
belt and located at a spaced position from the next longitudinally
of the belt; the respective cleat having a top surface spaced from
an outer surface of the belt arranged to carry the cut crop
thereon; the cleats comprising polymeric material with a
coefficient of friction; and a clip mounted on one or more of the
cleats; the clip covering a portion of the top surface of the said
at least one of the cleats where the top surface is otherwise in
contact with an upper surface of said at least one support member;
and the clip having an outer surface of non-metallic material with
a lower coefficient of friction than that of said one of more of
the cleats so as to reduce friction upon contact with said at least
one support member.
15. The crop header according to claim 14 wherein the clip
comprising a channel having an interior profile matching an
exterior profile of the respective cleat.
16. The crop header according to claim 15 wherein the clip fully
spans over the exterior profile of the respective cleat such that
the clip extends from the outer surface of the belt at one side of
the cleat to the outer surface of the belt on the other side of the
cleat.
17. The crop header according to claim 14 wherein the clip is
adapted to be press-fit onto the respective cleat.
18. The crop header according to claim 14 wherein the clip
comprises a channel having (i) a crown extending longitudinally
between first and second ends at a top side of the channel so as to
be located adjacent the top surface of the respective cleat, (ii)
legs depending downwardly from opposing sides of the crown, and
(iii) a plurality of teeth supported on the legs at a location
spaced downwardly from the crown and extending inwardly towards an
opposite one of the legs to respective inner free ends of the teeth
which bite into the side surfaces of the respective cleat to retain
the clip on the respective cleat in a mounted position of the clip,
each tooth having a ramped surface opposite from the crown which
extends inwardly towards the opposite one of the legs at an upward
slope towards the crown up to the inner free end of the respective
tooth.
19. The crop header according to claim 14 wherein the outer surface
of the clip comprises plastic material.
20. The crop header according to claim 14 wherein the clip is
positioned at a location spaced rearwardly of a front edge of the
belt adjacent the cutter bar.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a draper assembly for a crop
header and particularly to a device for reducing wear experienced
by draper cleats or slats during operation of the draper
assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Draper headers generally include a header frame, an elongate
cutter bar along a front edge of the frame including a cutter bar
beam which carries a plurality of knife guards for guiding
reciprocating movement of a sickle knife across a front edge of the
cutter bar. On the header is also mounted a draper assembly
including a first and second draper guide roller each arranged at a
respective end of the draper assembly spaced apart along the cutter
bar with an axis of each roller extending substantially at right
angles to the cutter bar, a draper forming a continuous loop of
flexible material wrapped around the rollers so as to define a
front edge of the draper adjacent the cutter bar, a rear edge of
the draper spaced rearwardly of the cutter bar, an upper run of the
draper on top of the roller and a lower run of the draper below the
rollers. The cut crop thus falls rearwardly onto the upper run of
the draper and is transported longitudinally of the header.
Conventionally, between the two end draper rollers there is
provided a support plate assembly for supporting the upper run of
the draper to prevent sagging. There is also provided a lower
support track in the form of a plate extending longitudinally and
rearwardly of the cutter bar beneath the lower run of the draper to
confine the lower run of the belt to a location above a respective
forwardly extending beam over which the lower run is passing and
above a bottom of the cutter bar. In short, the lower support track
confines the lower run to a location clear of the header frame and
of the cutter bar so that the lower run does not contact
either.
[0003] The header of this type can be used simply for forming a
swath in which case the material is carried to a discharge opening
of the header and deposited therefrom onto the ground. Headers of
this type can also be used for feeding a combine harvester so that
the materials are carried to an adapter member positioned at the
discharge opening of the header for carrying the materials from the
discharge opening into the feeder housing of the combine harvester.
Yet further, headers of this type can be used for hay conditioners
in which the material from the discharge opening is carried into
crushing rolls. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the use of
the header is not limited to particular types of agricultural
machine but can be used with any such machine in which it is
necessary to cut a standing crop and to transport that crop when
cut longitudinally of the header for operation thereon.
[0004] The draper normally comprises a fabric which is coated with
a rubber material which is then vulcanized after forming of the
fabric into the required shape and after attachment thereto of
transverse slats or cleats. Typically, this rubber material is
particularly designed to optimize traction with the draper guide
rollers so as to minimize slippage between the fabric and the
draper guide rollers as at least one of these guide rollers is
driven so as to effect movement of the fabric.
[0005] As such, this rubber material is also at the cleats which
come into contact with the lower support track at the lower return
run of the draper. One problem which arises from this combination
of lower support track and draper is that of friction at an
interface between the cleat, which presents a surface spaced away
from an outer surface of the fabric, and the lower support track
which is typically stationary relative to the lower run of the
draper moving thereover in direct contact with the lower support
track. This friction causes the draper to wear at the cleats.
[0006] This undesirable wear on the draper is dependent on factors
including force, speed of the draper passing past the lower support
track, and friction at the lower support track and at the draper.
The force and speed cannot be modified due to specifications for
the header, leaving friction as the factor to be modified. Reducing
the coefficient of friction of the track has a limited effect on
the friction which is generated at this interface as, of the two
components, it is the rubber which has the higher coefficient of
friction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a clip for use in a crop header which includes a draper
with (i) a continuous belt of flexible material arranged to define
an upper run and a lower run and having an outer surface of the
belt for carrying cut crop thereon, and (ii) a plurality of cleats
supported on the belt each having a top surface spaced from the
outer surface of the belt and side surfaces depending from the top
surface to the outer surface of the belt, the clip comprising:
[0008] a channel having a crown extending longitudinally between
first and second ends at a top side of the channel that is
locatable at or adjacent the top surface of the respective cleat
and legs depending downwardly from opposing sides of the crown;
and
[0009] a plurality of teeth supported on the legs at a location
spaced downwardly from the crown and extending inwardly towards an
opposite one of the legs to respective inner free ends of the teeth
which are adapted for biting into the side surfaces of the
respective cleat to retain the clip on the respective cleat in a
mounted position of the clip;
[0010] each tooth having a ramped surface opposite from the crown
which extends inwardly towards the opposite one of the legs at an
upward slope towards the crown up to the inner free end of the
respective tooth such that the ramped surface of each tooth is
adapted to ride along the side surfaces of the respective cleat as
the clip is pressed downwardly onto the respective cleat towards
the mounted position of the clip.
[0011] Typically, a draper cleat comprises a rubber or rubber-like
material which has a high coefficient of friction as preferred in
the field of drapers, and thus a bare cleat generates substantial
friction upon contact with a support member (part of the header
frame) which is disposed beneath the lower run for confining the
lower run of the belt to a location above at least one of the
forwardly extending arms and above a bottom of the cutter bar,
thereby causing the cleat to wear. (The support member ensures a
front edge of the belt is clear of both the forwardly extending
beam and the cutter bar.)
[0012] The clip therefore provides a simple cost-effective device
which may be installed on the draper cleat at any time and which is
usable to reduce wear thereof when the cleat comes into contact
with the support member.
[0013] If and when the clip wears out over time, the clip may be
replaced without having to repair or replace either one of the
cleats and the belt of the draper assembly.
[0014] Furthermore, the clip may be installed to cover only the
portion of the draper which contacts the support member.
[0015] Preferably an outer surface of the channel comprises
non-metallic material arranged so as to have a coefficient of
friction which is less than that of the cleats. This outer surface
is that at the crown and may comprise at least upper portions of
the legs.
[0016] The use of non-metallic material prevents sparking upon
contact of the clip with the lower support member of the draper
assembly which typically comprises metallic material.
[0017] Typically, the non-metallic material of the channel outer
surface is plastic.
[0018] The channel may be wholly formed from the plastic so as to
reduce cost of manufacturing the clip.
[0019] Preferably the material(s) forming the crown, the legs and
the connection of the legs relative to the crown is sufficiently
stiff and rigid to penetrate the teeth into the side surfaces of
the respective cleat solely by downward pressing of the clip onto
the respective cleat towards the mounted position of the clip. The
clips are thus adapted to be press-fit onto the respective cleats
without any further manipulation of the clip being required to
retain the clips on the cleats.
[0020] In some embodiments, the material the forming the crown, the
legs and the connection of the legs relative to the crown, is
somewhat resilient so that engagement of the ramped surfaces of the
teeth downwardly along the side surfaces of the cleat as the clip
is pressed downwardly onto the cleat causes the legs to be flexed
outwardly somewhat. In this instance, the material has sufficient
bias to return to an unflexed and uninstalled condition to
penetrate the teeth into the side surfaces of the cleat once the
clip has reached the mounted position with the crown at the top
side of the cleat.
[0021] In further embodiments, the material the forming the crown,
the legs and the connection of the legs relative to the crown, is
much more rigid so that engagement of the ramped surfaces of the
teeth downwardly along the side surfaces of the cleat as the clip
is pressed downwardly onto the cleat causes the resilient material
forming the side surfaces of the cleat to undergo more deformation
than the outward flexing of the legs of the clip. Again, the
material has sufficient bias to remain substantially fixed in an
unflexed and uninstalled condition to penetrate the teeth into the
side surfaces of the cleat once the clip has reached the mounted
position with the crown at the top side of the cleat.
[0022] More typically, the material the forming the crown, the legs
and the connection of the legs relative to the crown, has material
properties arranged so that engagement of the ramped surfaces of
the teeth downwardly along the side surfaces of the cleat as the
clip is pressed downwardly onto the cleat causes both (i) some
deformation of the side surfaces of the cleat about the teeth and
(ii) some outward flexing of the legs of the clip.
[0023] In either embodiment, the clip is arranged such that in the
installed condition, the legs are biased inwardly towards a shape
of an unstressed and uninstalled condition by the stiffness and
resiliency of the material, which in turn biases the legs inwards
towards the side surfaces of the cleat for biting the teeth into
the side surfaces of the cleat. The clip is thus arranged to
generate sufficient clamping force without substantial manipulation
of the clip from an uninstalled condition to an installed condition
to be retained on the cleat, that is for example without manually
bending the legs inwardly.
[0024] The ramped surfaces may oriented at an angle of greater than
45 degrees from an inner surface of the crown to assist in
press-fitting the clips onto the cleats. This corresponds to the
ramped surfaces being oriented at less than 45 degrees from a plane
that is longitudinal of the channel and normal to the inner surface
of the crown.
[0025] Each tooth may also include an inner surface opposite the
ramped surface thereof which extends inwardly towards the opposite
one of the legs at an upward slope towards the crown up to the
inner free end of the respective tooth. In this instance the inner
surface and the outer surface of each tooth may intersect one
another at an apex extending longitudinally of the channel at the
inner free end of the tooth such that the tooth acts as a barb to
resist removal of the clip from the cleat.
[0026] Preferably each leg supports a plurality of the teeth
thereon at longitudinally spaced positions thereon. In this
instance, the teeth may be spaced each from the next by a distance
less than half a length of the respective tooth longitudinal of the
channel.
[0027] In one arrangement an outer surface of the clip is rounded
where the respective leg meets the crown such that the outer
surface is devoid of any sharp angles which can become caught on
any other components of the header as the draper is operated.
[0028] In one arrangement, the crown includes a central portion and
a pair of end portions extending longitudinally outward from the
central portion towards the first and second ends respectively, in
which a thickness of the crown within each end portion being
tapered longitudinally from the central portion of the crown
towards the respective end of the channel such that an overall
height of the crown relative to the legs is reduced towards both of
the first and second ends of the channel.
[0029] When the channel includes a central portion and a pair of
end portions extending longitudinally outward from the central
portion towards the first and second ends respectively, a width of
the clip within each end portion may also be tapered longitudinally
from the central portion of the crown towards the respective end of
the channel such that the width at the first and second ends is
smaller in than the width at the central portion. In this instance,
a thickness of each leg of the clip may also be reduced in
thickness longitudinally towards the ends of the clip. Preferably
the teeth are spaced longitudinally inward relative to the first
and second ends of the channel in this instance such that there is
a length of the end portion at both ends of the clip where there is
no tooth.
[0030] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a crop header arranged for cutting and transporting a
standing crop comprising:
[0031] a header frame;
[0032] the header frame comprising a main rear frame member and a
plurality of forwardly extending beams each supported by the main
rear frame member;
[0033] an elongate cutter bar connected to the forward end of the
beams so as to be arranged along a front edge of the frame;
[0034] a draper assembly mounted on the header frame rearwardly of
the cutter bar such that cut crop falls onto the draper assembly
for transportation longitudinally of the header;
[0035] the draper assembly including a first and a second draper
guide roller each arranged at a respective end of the draper
assembly spaced apart along the cutter bar with an axis of each
guide roller arranged substantially at right angles to the cutter
bar;
[0036] wherein the draper assembly comprises a continuous belt of
flexible material wrapped about the first and second draper guide
rollers so as to define an upper run of the belt on top of the
rollers and a lower run of the belt below the rollers;
[0037] at least one of the guide rollers being driven to drive the
belt;
[0038] at least one support member carried below the lower run of
the belt extending longitudinally of the lower run with an upper
surface of said at least one support member for confining the lower
run of the belt to a location above at least one of the forwardly
extending beams and a bottom of the cutter bar;
[0039] wherein the draper assembly includes a plurality of cleats
on the belt each extending transversely of the belt and located at
a spaced position from the next longitudinally of the belt;
[0040] the respective cleat having a top surface spaced from an
outer surface of the belt arranged to carry the cut crop
thereon;
[0041] the cleats comprising polymeric material with a coefficient
of friction;
[0042] and a clip mounted on one or more of the cleats;
[0043] the clip covering a portion of the top surface of the said
at least one of the cleats where the top surface is otherwise in
contact with an upper surface of said at least one support member;
and
[0044] the clip having an outer surface of non-metallic material
with a lower coefficient of friction than that of said one of more
of the cleats so as to reduce friction upon contact with said at
least one support member.
[0045] As such, the clip is positioned on the respective cleat at a
location closer to a front edge than to a rear edge of the lower
run.
[0046] Further, typically the clip is positioned at a location
spaced rearwardly of a front edge of the belt adjacent the cutter
bar.
[0047] Typically, the clip is an accessory to the draper assembly
which is installable onto the cleat.
[0048] The clip preferably comprises a channel having an interior
profile matching an exterior profile of the respective cleat. More
particularly, the clip may fully span over the exterior profile of
the respective cleat such that the clip extends from the outer
surface of the belt at one side of the cleat to the outer surface
of the belt on the other side of the cleat.
[0049] In one arrangement, the clip comprises a channel having (i)
a crown extending longitudinally between first and second ends at a
top side of the channel so as to be located adjacent the top
surface of the respective cleat, (ii) legs depending downwardly
from opposing sides of the crown, and (iii) a plurality of teeth
supported on the legs at a location spaced downwardly from the
crown and extending inwardly towards an opposite one of the legs to
respective inner free ends of the teeth which bite into the side
surfaces of the respective cleat to retain the clip on the
respective cleat in a mounted position of the clip. In this
instance, each tooth preferably has a ramped surface opposite from
the crown which extends inwardly towards the opposite one of the
legs at an upward slope towards the crown up to the inner free end
of the respective tooth.
[0050] Regardless of the user of ramped surfaces, the stiffness of
the legs relative to the crown, and the strength of the teeth are
arranged such that the clip is adapted to be press-fit onto the
respective cleat.
[0051] Preferably the outer surface of the clip comprises
non-metallic material. Typically, this non-metallic material is
plastic.
[0052] Generally speaking, the clip may be that as described above
in relation to an earlier aspect of the invention.
[0053] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method of installing a clip on a draper of a crop
header, the method comprising:
[0054] providing the draper with (i) a continuous belt of flexible
material arranged to define an upper run and a lower run and having
an outer surface of the belt for carrying cut crop thereon, and
(ii) a plurality of cleats supported on the belt each having a top
surface spaced from the outer surface of the belt and side surfaces
depending from the top surface to the outer surface of the
belt;
[0055] providing the clip with (i) a channel having a crown
extending longitudinally between first and second ends at a top
side of the channel, (ii) legs depending downwardly from opposing
sides of the crown, and (iii) plurality of teeth supported on the
legs at a location spaced downwardly from the crown and extending
inwardly towards an opposite one of the legs to respective inner
free ends of the teeth;
[0056] and pressing the clip downwardly onto the cleat such that
the inner free ends ride along the side surfaces of the respective
cleat as the clip is pressed downwardly onto the respective cleat
until the crown of the channel is located at or adjacent the top
surface of the respective cleat and the teeth bite into the side
surfaces of respective cleat to retain the clip on the respective
cleat in a mounted position of the clip.
[0057] When each tooth further comprises a ramped surface opposite
from the crown which extends inwardly towards the opposite one of
the legs at an upward slope towards the crown up to the inner free
end of the respective tooth and wherein the method may further
include resiliently deforming at least one of (i) the side surfaces
of the respective cleat or (ii) the legs of the clip relative to
the crown of the clip, as the ramped surfaces of the teeth ride
along the side surfaces of the respective cleat during downward
pressing of the clip onto the respective cleat.
[0058] It will be appreciated that any use herein of "draper
canvas" is to be understood as a traditional term based upon the
canvas material from which the "draper" was made but that this term
no longer provides any indication of nor limitation to the use of
particular materials for the base fabric from which the "draper" is
made. Many synthetic materials can thus be used. Commonly the
draper is coated with a rubber layer and again many different
resilient coating materials can be used and no limitation is
intended herein in this regard. As in known arrangements, for
example in that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,986 (Talbot et
al.) issued Oct. 24, 1995 and assigned to the present Assignee, the
increased thickness at the edge portion can be made of the same
material as the remaining rubber covering or may be a strip of a
different material of different chemical structure or of different
characteristics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0059] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0060] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of crop header including a
draper assembly and a clip according to the present invention;
[0061] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the draper assembly with the
clip;
[0062] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a forward section of
the crop header of FIG. 1 in the vicinity of the cutter bar;
[0063] FIG. 4 is a first perspective view of a first embodiment of
the clip showing a top side of the clip;
[0064] FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of the clip showing a
bottom side of the clip according to the first embodiment of FIG.
4;
[0065] FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the clip
along line 6-6 in FIG. 4 of the clip according to the first
embodiment of FIG. 4 in which the outer surface of the draper
including the exterior profile of the cleat are shown in broken
line;
[0066] FIG. 7 is bottom view of the clip according to the first
embodiment of FIG. 4; and
[0067] FIG. 8 is a first perspective view of a second embodiment of
the clip showing a top side of the clip;
[0068] FIG. 9 is a second perspective view of the clip showing a
bottom side of the clip according to the second embodiment of FIG.
8; and
[0069] FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the draper assembly
showing the clip according to the second embodiment of FIG. 8,
where some components are omitted for clarity of illustration.
[0070] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0071] The following description relates only those parts of the
header which are of importance to the present invention and the
remaining parts of the header including the frame structure,
drives, ground wheels and the like are omitted as these will be
well known to one skilled in the art.
[0072] The header therefore comprises a frame 10, one element 10A
of which is in the form of a beam extending horizontally and
forwardly from a rear support frame structure 10B to a cutter bar
assembly generally indicated at 11 for support of that cutter bar
assembly across the front of the header. The plurality of beams 10A
are arranged at spaced positions along the length of the header
frame so as to support the cutter bar assembly 11 as an elongate
structure across the front edge of the header. As shown in FIG. 1,
the beams 10A are attached rigidly, that is by a rigid connection
10C, to the main rear frame structure 10B to hold the cutter bar 11
in a fixed common plane 10D. That is the rigid connection holds
each of the beams at a fixed angle relative to the main rear frame
member so as to extend forwardly therefrom to a forward end.
[0073] The cutter bar comprises a generally Y-shaped beam 12 with a
leg 12C and two arms 12D and 12E. The beam is formed from two
components 12A and 12B welded together at the leg 12C, where the
leg provides structural support for the cutter bar elements
including the guards and sickle bar which are omitted from the
drawings. The knife guards are of course of well-known construction
and carry a sickle knife assembly having a longitudinally
reciprocating bar driving a plurality of triangular knife blades
which sit on the knife guards and reciprocate back and forth across
the knife guards in a cutting action.
[0074] The leg 12E of the cutter bar support beam 12 includes a
front wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the
flange 12C to an upper generally rearwardly extending top wall
which extends to a rear apex. At the apex the top wall connects
with an L-shaped hanger portion 12H including a vertical extending
plate and a forwardly extending generally horizontal flange
projecting toward but not meeting the front wall portion.
[0075] The leg 12D forms a rearwardly and downwardly extending wall
which acts as a skid plate when the cutter bar is cutting on the
ground. The plate may be covered by a protective plastics wear
shield (not shown).
[0076] The draper assembly, best shown in FIG. 2, includes a first
draper support roller 30 and a second draper support roller 30A.
One of these rollers is driven by a drive motor 30B to effect
rotation of the draper in conventional manner. The draper assembly
further includes a draper 32 in the form of a continuous loop or
band of fabric which is wrapped about the rollers at respective
ends to form an upper run 33 of the draper on top of the rollers
and a lower run 34 of the draper underneath the rollers. The
rollers are thus spaced longitudinally of the cutter bar and
arranged with their axes of rotation parallel and at right angles
to the cutter bar. The draper thus includes a front edge 35 of the
upper run which is adjacent the cutter bar and a rear edge 36 of
the upper run 33 which is remote from the cutter bar and spaced
rearwardly therefrom thus defining therebetween a flat surface of
the upper run for transportation of the crop longitudinally of the
header. The lower run 34 also includes a front edge 37 and a rear
edge 38. The draper includes a plurality of conventional transverse
cleats 39 which assist in carrying the crop along the draper
extending transversely of the draper and at spaced positions
longitudinally thereof. Each edge of the draper can include a
conventional folded seam so as to define a portion of the draper
material which is folded back with that folded back portion being
folded back on top of the fabric layer and bonded to the draper by
the vulcanization effect in the manufacture of the draper.
[0077] The front edge portion 35 of the draper may include an
optional thickened layer of rubber 35A so that a flat underside of
the sealing member's second flexible portion runs along an upper
surface of the thickened layer of rubber as the upper run of the
draper moves longitudinally of the cutter bar 12. The thickened
layer of rubber if used can provide a dam for dirt trickling
forwardly down the draper so that it is blocked and carried to the
end without reaching the seal.
[0078] In order to maintain the lower run 34 at a location where it
is clear of the cutter bar and the beams 10A over which it passes,
a lower support track 42 in the form of a corrugated plate is
provided supported beneath the lower run on the beams 10A extending
longitudinally of the lower run 34 in a position closer to the
front edge 37 than to the rear edge 38 of the lower run. The lower
support track is thus located above the beams 10A (as it rests
thereon) and a bottom 12K of the cutter bar that is defined at the
lower leg 12D.
[0079] Conventionally, an upper surface 42A of the lower support
track is arranged to contact a bare top surface 44A of the
respective cleat 39 when that cleat moves from position at the
upper run to the lower run 34 as the top surface 44A is spaced
outwardly from an outer surface 46 of the draper on which the cut
crop lies as it is carried by the draper. It is through this
contact with the lower support track that the front edge 37 of the
lower run is maintained above both the bottom of the cutter bar and
the lower run 34 above the beams 10A thereunder. However,
disadvantageously the cleat experiences significant wear due to
friction with the lower support track.
[0080] Thus, a clip 100 is provided at one or more of the cleats
(typically all of them) covering that portion of the top surface
44A of the respective cleat positioned in a prescribed position so
as to be otherwise in contact with the upper surface 42A of the
lower support track. The clip comprises an outer surface 102 with a
lower coefficient of friction than that of the cleat, which is the
primary contributor to the friction at an interface of the cleats
at the lower run and the lower support track due to the rubber
composition of surfaces of the cleat, so as to reduce the friction
upon contact with the lower support track.
[0081] Although two embodiments of the clip are illustrated and
described herein, the two embodiments differ only in the overall
profile and/or shape thereof so as to be adapted to two different
shapes of cleats on different types of drapers. The function of the
clip and the manner in which the clip interacts with the cleat upon
which it is mounted is substantially identical in both embodiments.
The following description is directed towards the common features
of the two embodiments.
[0082] As such, the clip 100 is positioned in the prescribed
position on the respective cleat 39 at a location closer to the
front edge 37 than to the rear edge 38 of the lower run 34 and
spaced rearwardly from the front edge 37, so as to be aligned with
the lower support track transversely of the draper lower run.
[0083] The clip 100 is an accessory installed on the respective
cleat such that the clip is wholly distinct therefrom. Thus when
the clip wears out with use, the clip alone may be replaced without
need to replace any part of the draper due to the friction
occurring at the interface between the draper and the lower support
track.
[0084] As shown more clearly in FIGS. 4-10, the clip forms a
channel receiving the cleat with a crown 104 at a top side of the
channel extending longitudinally from a first end 105A to a second
end 106 of the channel and legs 107, 108 depending downwardly from
opposing sides of the crown. Thus, the crown is locatable at or
adjacent the top surface 44A of the cleat, though typically in
abutment with the cleat top surface as better shown in FIG. 10, and
the legs 107, 108 are locatable at or adjacent side surfaces 44C
and 44D of the cleat that depend from the cleat top surface 44A to
the outer surface 46 of the draper.
[0085] The clip further includes a plurality of teeth 110 supported
at insides of each of the legs 107, 108 at a location spaced
downwardly from the crown for gripping the respective cleat at its
side surfaces 44C, 44D. The teeth 110 are positioned at bottoms of
the legs and each tooth is spaced longitudinally from the next by a
distance X less than half the width of the respective tooth
longitudinally of the channel. The teeth forming ends of the series
of the teeth on each leg are also spaced longitudinally inward from
the first and the second ends 105, 106 of the channel such that
there is a length of the leg at both longitudinally opposed ends
thereof where there is no tooth.
[0086] The teeth 110 are maintained in fixed relation to the legs
of the channel and are oriented so as to extend inwardly towards an
opposite one of the legs to an inner free end 112 of the respective
tooth. More particularly, each tooth includes a ramped surface 113
at an outer side facing generally downwardly and away from the
crown and an opposite inner surface 114 facing generally upwardly
towards the crown. The ramped surface 113 and the inner surface 114
meet at an apex having an interior angle of less than 45 degrees to
form a sharp edge extending longitudinally of the channel at the
inner free end 112 of the tooth.
[0087] The outer ramped surfaces 113 of the teeth extend inwardly
towards the other leg of the channel at an upward slope from the
bottoms of the legs up to the inner free ends. The teeth are
oriented so that a plane extending from the teeth along the ramped
surfaces thereof to the crown forms an angle with the crown that is
greater than 45 degrees, such that the teeth are inclined closer to
the vertical than to the horizontal. This corresponds to the ramped
surfaces being less than 45 in relation to a vertical plane that is
both longitudinal of the channel and perpendicular to the inner
surface of the crown. The ramped surfaces are thus transverse and
sloped at a greater angle to the vertical plane than the side
surfaces of the cleat so as to be adapted to ride along the side
surfaces of the respective cleat as the clip is pressed downwardly
onto the respective cleat towards the mounted position of the
clip.
[0088] The inner surface 114 of each tooth which is opposite the
ramped surface thereof, also extends inwardly towards the opposite
one of the legs at an upward slope towards the crown up to the
inner free end of the respective tooth. The inner surface 114 and
the outer surface 113 of each tooth thus intersect one another at
an apex extending longitudinally of the channel at the inner free
end of the tooth having an interior angle which is less than 45
degrees to function of as a barb which is readily penetrated into
the side surfaces of the cleat if the clip is pulled upwardly away
from the outer surface of the draper. The shape of the teeth is
thus adapted so that the outer ramped surfaces 113 are slidable
along the side surfaces 44C, 44D of the respective cleat during
installation of the clip, but when the clip is in an installed
condition the inner free ends of the teeth bite into the side
surfaces so as to be retained on the respective cleat.
[0089] The legs 107, 108 of the channel are substantially rigid and
fixed in relation to the crown 104. Therefore, with the teeth 110
arranged as they are, the cleat may be pressed onto the cleat by
hammering of the clip downward into the prescribed position. As the
clip is pressed downwardly onto the cleat, the inner free ends ride
along the side surfaces of the respective cleat until the crown of
the channel is located at or adjacent the top surface of the
respective cleat and the bottom ends of the legs are adjacent the
outer surface of the draper. During downward pressing of the
installation, at least one or both of (i) the side surfaces of the
respective cleat, and/or (ii) the legs of the clip relative to the
crown of the clip, are resiliently deformed as the ramped surfaces
of the teeth ride along the side surfaces of the respective cleat
towards the mounted position of the clip.
[0090] Due to the stiffness of the material forming the clip, the
clip is arranged to generate sufficient clamping force by biasing
of the legs inwardly towards the side surfaces of the cleat in the
installed condition of the clip, by the clip being biased to remain
or return to an unflexed, uninstalled condition of the clip.
[0091] To guide the clamping force of the teeth biting into the
cleat, an interior cross-section or interior profile of the channel
is shaped so as to match an exterior cross-section or exterior
profile of the respective cleat. More particularly, the clip fully
spans over the exterior profile of the cleat such that the clip
extends from the outer surface of the belt at one side of the cleat
to the outer surface of the belt on the other side of the
cleat.
[0092] Although there may be some slight resilient bending at a
joint of the respective leg with the crown upon installation onto
the cleat prior to biting of the teeth into the sides thereof, due
to the substantially fixed and rigid orientation of the legs of the
channel in relation to the crown, together with the matching
profiles of the clip and cleat, the clip is able to provide on its
own the clamping force required to effect biting of the teeth into
the cleat.
[0093] In the illustrated arrangements, the teeth are rectangular
in shape such that the free ends are defined by edges 112 extending
longitudinally of the channel.
[0094] The outer surface 102 of the clip comprises plastic material
particularly at the crown 104 that is arranged so as to have a
coefficient of friction which is less than that of the cleats. The
use of non-metallic material, as with the plastic, prevents
sparking upon contact of the clip with the lower support track
which typically comprises metallic material. Also, the outer
surface at upper portions of the legs 107, 108 near where these
legs meet the crown may comprise the plastic material. The outer
surface 102 of the clip is shaped to be rounded where the legs meet
the crown longitudinally along the full length thereof to further
minimize any frictional resistance as the outer surface of the clip
rides over the upper surface of the lower support member 42.
[0095] The channel is also shaped to include a central portion 119
and a pair of end portions 121 and 122 extending longitudinally
outward from the central portion towards the first and second ends
respectively. The clip is shaped such that a thickness of the crown
within each end portion is tapered longitudinally from the central
portion of the crown towards the respective end of the channel such
that an overall height of the crown relative to the legs is reduced
towards both of the first and second ends of the channel. Thus, the
crown has end portions 121 and 122 where the outer surface of the
clip lies transversely at a slope relative to the outer surface at
the central portion 119 of the clip.
[0096] Furthermore, a width of the clip (in a lateral direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the channel) within
each end portion is tapered longitudinally from the central portion
of the crown towards the respective end 105/106 of the channel such
that the width at the first and second ends is smaller in than the
width at the central portion. This corresponds to a thickness of
the legs being reduced towards both ends of the channel.
[0097] In the installed condition of the clip which is more clearly
shown in FIG. 8, the clip wraps about edges 44E and 44F of the top
surface 44A of the respective cleat such that bottoms 123, 124 of
the clip remote from the crown 104 are located at the side surfaces
44C, 44D of the cleat. As the clip's interior transverse
cross-section conforms to the exterior transverse cross-section of
the cleat, an inside surface 126 of the clip at the crown 104 abuts
the cleat top surface 44A, and the inside surface at the legs abuts
the side surfaces 44C and 44D. Fittingly, the edges 44E, 44F which
extend longitudinally of the cleat and at which the side surfaces
44C, 44D are contiguous with the top surface are nested at
shoulders 127, 128 of the clip where the crown is contiguous with
the legs. Moreover, the clip with interior transverse cross-section
which is sized to match the exterior transverse cross-section of
the cleat allows for the clip bottoms 123, 124 to touch the outer
surface 46 of the draper, such that a whole of the cleat at the
prescribed position of the clip is covered thereby. In FIG. 10 the
teeth 110 are shown in broken line to generally illustrate their
position relative to the cleat in the installed condition of the
clip.
[0098] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
herein above described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained
in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as
illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *